Would you do anything for your children? Many parents would. My parents always have - even when I had ridiculous requests like I needed a whole cantaloupe at 10 p.m. because I felt a cold coming on or Mr. P, the wiener dog, needed flea medication and I didn’t have time to pick it up myself.

When I was in the sixth grade, they even granted my request to not attend the school’s big oratory competition in which I was a finalist. I told them it would make me more nervous to see them sitting out in the crowd (composed of the entire school), and I begged that they not show up. They didn’t, and I ended up winning the event.

I remember my mother telling me that she had plans to hide in the bushes outside if need be, but she reconsidered and honored what I had asked of her.

Now, when I look back, I can’t believe that my parents did that for me. (I also can’t believe I asked that of them.) Parents find no greater joy than watching their children perform and succeed, and I deprived them of that memory.

But think about the respect and consideration they showed to me by that very act of understanding and acceptance.

Oh, what parents will do for their children!

I know moms and dads who will stay up late with their children helping them finish big reports for school that the child procrastinated on until the last minute. There are moms and dads who learn to sew and bake just so they can help contribute to school functions.

And for most, the giving doesn’t stop when the kids grow up.

Now, this is not to say that I can’t do things for myself, because I can, but I know I can still turn to my parents whenever I am in dire need of anything - from help with mundane everyday errands to getting greater life advice. I know I can count on them to be there and to always have my best interests in mind.

Parents all over the world are doing great things for their children, and I, for one, would just like to say thank you, mom and dad. I’m so very grateful.

There are two sides to every story, aren’t there?

Is it wrong to believe that there are two sides to every story? That’s what I’ve been taught, at least. It’s an important rule in the journalism world and one I think that should carry over to other areas of life as well.

Let’s say your daughter tells you her little brother created that mess in the kitchen. You would go and ask your son for his side of the story before you took your daughter’s word for it, right? And if they had two different versions of the story, well, then you’d either have to make an educated guess or punish them both.

The same should apply to adults as well. If you have a friend tell you a story concerning the wrongdoing of another friend, then you should probably get the other side of the story before you draw any conclusions, right? Wouldn’t that seem fair?

We may think we have all the information we need and so we pass judgment on the actions of others before we hear the perspectives of all the parties involved.

Have you ever been in a situation where you wonder how people came to the conclusions they did? I’d imagine if it’s a situation where blame is being passed, the party being blamed might like to be confronted directly and have a chance to say their piece.

It’s the only way to be fair. This world is full of alternative viewpoints. And just because you perceive something one way doesn’t make it reality. Don’t fall victim to believing only one side of a story.

The best birth control.

I’m telling you, the best birth control out there doesn’t come in a little cardboard box and isn’t a set of pills you have to take daily. The best birth control is a little dose of reality.

Put someone in a room with three keiki, all under 5 years of age, and let them try to babysit for a few hours. By then, they’re likely to have at least one poopy diaper that needs changing, two scuffles over who can play with whose toys, one food fight, one incident involving eating something that shouldn’t be eaten and one very long game of tag, chasing the baby who has just learned to walk.